As of late, I do mine in a 4x12,10,8,6 rep scheme. I look at it as being more powerful than say, a 4x4 routine. Because I am moving MORE weight in the same time, which is more work, which is more power. Do it the way you want. Just be sure you're adding weight, and that you strain on the last set, and you can't go wrong.

Deadlifts are like Squats in that as long as you're giving a lot of effort, with good form, you almost can't go wrong (my opinion). Going heavy for fewer reps, or lighter for more reps, you're sure to see results. Now if you're wanting specific results, such as maximum power for instance, you'll obviously want to work with heavier weights. I think you need to find what works best for you. For instance, I usually don't like doing more than 12 reps for any set of deadlifts. So If I'm doing three sets, I might do 12, 10, 8, or even 10, 8, 6, or if I'm going for maximum power, I'll load on the weight and do even less reps. And if I'm doing more sets, I adjust the reps accordingly, but like I said, I don't like to go over 12 reps on my working sets.

As of right now I'm doing deadlifts at the end of my back routine (I've done deadlifts at the beginning before, just to let you know), doing three sets of 10, 8, 6. I'm more interested in asthetics rather than pure strength, but deadlifts are just so damned good to not have them in your routine somewhere. They do wonders for my squats, and overall strength for that matter.

Progressive overload is considered the most important principle behind hypertrophy, so increasing the weight, reps, and sets will all have a positive impact on growth. It is generally believed that with more than 15 repetitions per set, the weight will be too light to stimulate growth. I am on a hypertrophy program myself right now with deadlift shrugs included in my "B" workout.
There is 3 different set/rep ranges that this workout uses 5x5, 4x10, and 3x15. If you are able to pick up the book "The new rules of lifting" by Lou Schuler it is a very informative, yet simple approach to lifting. He focuses on functional lifts, not aesthetic lifts, no biceps curls or four different exercises to work your delts. Take everything you read in here with a grain of salt, and educate yourself.

Weight isn't necessarily too light with more than 15 reps - squats for 20, deads for 20, leg press for 20, there are plenty of movements where 15+ can be beneficial.

However, I do agree with the ideas that you're putting forward - changing up your set/rep scheme every workout (i.e. a technique called undulating periodization) is very effective and I use it. Try adding in an 10x3 (that's right, tens sets of 3 reps) day to your lifting sometime, it's great stuff.

Renegade doesn't need to be told that functional, compound movements trumps isolation for total hypertrophy, though. If you read his threads on bulking, he's got some great info in there.

I would say sets of 20, not 10-12. This is a good idea though. Maybe it should be done at the end of the workout though as this would be sure to cause some fatigue. I like to go heavy every back day and I couldn't see this anywhere in my routine except for the final few sets.

Progressive overload is considered the most important principle behind hypertrophy, so increasing the weight, reps, and sets will all have a positive impact on growth. It is generally believed that with more than 15 repetitions per set, the weight will be too light to stimulate growth. I am on a hypertrophy program myself right now with deadlift shrugs included in my "B" workout.
There is 3 different set/rep ranges that this workout uses 5x5, 4x10, and 3x15. If you are able to pick up the book "The new rules of lifting" by Lou Schuler it is a very informative, yet simple approach to lifting. He focuses on functional lifts, not aesthetic lifts, no biceps curls or four different exercises to work your delts. Take everything you read in here with a grain of salt, and educate yourself.

What I have noticed in myself and people I have trained with in the past with high-rep anything is that form usually pays a high price. IMO if you are not using proper form then you shouldn't be lifting that amount of weight. Improper form is especially pronounced in lifts like squats, and deads where it requires a good deal of coordination to properly execute the lift. I would suggest of you are going to do high-rep deads to video tape yourself from the side and watch your form to see how much it suffers. Some fitness professionals don't even like to use the words "rep" and "deadlift" in the same sentence because they say each rep is actually and individual lift since you should properly reset yourself after every "rep"

Ive never gone over 6 reps. I load the dead bar up and heavy as possible....to the point of supposed to get 4 reps, but i always manage with great form to bang out 6 reps. Im talking 100% TOTAL EFFORT to the point of panting and nearly blacking out when done with your set. Its the only way IMO, and my back has sprouted like a weed the last 4 or so months.

I think anything from 6-10 reps will produce hypertrophy. Hell, as long as your moving heavy weight. I remember one time i was doing deads and someone was standing behind me just watching and when i got through with my set, they said this

"geez, you should have seen the veins coming out of your calves when you were doing that"...

I recommend some light cardio and free form warm up, followed by a warm of set of 8-10 reps with about 1/4 of working set weight, and then one working super-set of 20-25 reps. Several sets of high (15-20) reps is too much and also form will break down. And, if you're using the same weight for all sets, then you're skimping on tonnage and and this is more argument for one heavy set. Same principle as one super set of 20-25 for squats.

Ive never gone over 6 reps. I load the dead bar up and heavy as possible....to the point of supposed to get 4 reps, but i always manage with great form to bang out 6 reps. Im talking 100% TOTAL EFFORT to the point of panting and nearly blacking out when done with your set. Its the only way IMO, and my back has sprouted like a weed the last 4 or so months.

I think anything from 6-10 reps will produce hypertrophy. Hell, as long as your moving heavy weight. I remember one time i was doing deads and someone was standing behind me just watching and when i got through with my set, they said this

"geez, you should have seen the veins coming out of your calves when you were doing that"...

so, yes, deads are a great overall exercise

Agreed, and I do deads the exact same way. Im actually on a DC style w/o but deads are the one thing I keep the same due to safety issues and already getting good results. Also my intensity is very different for deads than any another exercise. I always have a very solid mind to muscle connection on all exercises but I look like a schizophrenic person doing deads. I even have my own deadlifting song. I go as heavy as possible, shoot for no more than 6, and my intensity is so high i will keep going no matter what, even if i fail on the last rep 10 times in a row,... Im gonna get it. I cant tell you how many pairs of boxer shorts I have ripped on Deads' day, and how many "laying on the floor for 5 minutes after deads" sessions ive had, lol.

If you have any level of strength, you are probaby more likely to get hurt deadilfting for high reps than in the 3-5 rep range. Your form breaks down and you try and muscle weight up as you get tired. I honetly always try and leave some in the tank when deadlifting. If you are going to pull higher rep deads, i would do it last in your workout. It will make you drop the weight a bit.

hell no high rep deadlift are terrible when you get ur weights up. i use to 'burn out" with 300 pound deadlifts last year when i knew nothing about lifting and now there is no way i can. i learn good form never over 5 reps and i sometimes feel 5 reps is too much. triples are my favorite followed by one exercise of high weight, low rep lift for back. then a bunch of low weight high rep for back

The two greatest and most difficult exercises one can do are back squats and the deadlift for high reps. I prefer 15-25. 1 set is plenty with 1 or 2 warmup sets. The breathing DL is a killer, taking in 3-5 huge deep breaths after each rep. These have built many a strong men!

I use to obey to the BFS **** program, not bad, but not a great program for the athlete. GREAT for noobs. They say never go above 5 reps, which I now do not believe in. Thanks to Dr. Ken in getting me to wake up!